Normalizing Non-Monogamy - Personal Stories of Polyamory, Swinging, and Beyond

Jessica is a curator of brave spaces for people to own their power and awaken to their most expansive selves. Through her work as a coach and retreat facilitator, she realized it was people’s relationships that needed healing the most. That’s when she decided to launch her podcast, Open Late, a look at relationships through her lens of consensual non-monogamy. She wants to inspire people to create designer relationships filled with truth, vulnerability, intimacy and play. In this amazing conversation she takes us on the journey of opening up her marriage about seven years ago. We get into so many fantastic topics including strategies around confronting shame, falling in love, evolving relationships, blending casual swinging-ish relationships with polyamory, and even the prospect of having a baby while in a triad. Enjoy! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Jude is a queer, neurodivergent, non-binary, badass. They learned about non-monogamy roughly eight years ago and started exploring is for themselves a bit over a year ago. After much self-discovery, Jude is feeling the pull to move back toward monogamy but wants to bring what they learned along the way with them. This conversation is fantastic and covers so many topics in a beautiful way. We talk about communal living, life partners, labels, gender identity, self acceptance, Jello wrestling, and living a life that just feels good to you. Jude is definitely doing life their own way and this episode is an inspiration in doing the same. Enjoy! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

William's first conversations and exposure to non-monogamy happened around 2003 while he was living in Louisiana. A few years later he and his partner moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and by 2014 the San Francisco Chronicle named William Winters the "de facto king of the East Bay polyamory scene." In this wonderful conversation, William brings us along with him on the full journey from discovering and beginning to explore ethical non-monogamy (ENM) to founding the Bonobo Network and building an incredible sex-positive community, We love this conversation and the work the Bonobo team are doing! We hope you do as well! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Meshai and her husband have been married for 17 years but only in the last few years have they explored non-monogamy. For them, they oscillate between more of a casual swinging approach and something that looks more like polyamory. We have amazing conversations with her about living life to the fullest, how non-monogamy forces you to see yourself, and how she sort of ended up exploring her sexuality without really recognizing there was anything to explore. At least until everything clicked! Meshai also comes from a very religious background and she talks with us about how she approaches non-monogamy and religion. This is an amazing conversation and we hope you enjoy it! Meshai is dually licensed and certified in both Trauma Therapy and Sex Therapy. She believes in the power of living as one’s authentic self, and the freedom that comes from changing perspectives. She loves putting the puzzle pieces together of a couple's sexual energy and aiding them in positive and explorative movement. Her coaching work implements creative synergy, openness, self-expression, and the confrontation of challenges through self-determination. She helps individuals from diverse populations move forward with their goals while being fully aware that trauma can play on the whole person. To learn more about how to work with Meshai, head over to Expansive Connection. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

We are so excited about this conversation with Gary that is all about the power of play in life and in relationships! Gary Ware is the Founder of Breakthrough Play, a corporate facilitator, keynote speaker, certified coach, and self-proclaimed Creative Catalyst. Gary has over 14 years of experience in the corporate world holding various leadership positions. Being a multifaceted individual Gary also comes with nearly a decade of experience as a performer in improv theatre. After experiencing burnout in his pursuit for success and happiness, he realized that what was missing was play. Committing to a life of play is what led Gary to discover his passion for facilitating. Gary uses the power of applied improvisation and other playful methods to assist people in unlocking creativity, confidence, and better communication. Gary was recently featured as one of the Top 100 HR influencers of 2021 by the Engagedly HR software platform. When Gary isn't leading workshops or speaking, you can find him learning magic or off on an adventure with his wife Courtney and son Garrett. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Pam and Jim are nudists who live in Florida and have been exploring non-monogamy together since they met about three years ago. Jim is 83 and started exploring his sexuality a few years ago and identifies as a pansexual who loves crossdressing! He leans more towards the polyamorous side of things. Pam is 69 and enjoys things a bit more casual. She identifies as the monogamous half of their mono-poly dynamic. However, it's not so simple... Pam and Jim go to orgies together every few weeks and have an absolute blast! During this conversation they share with us how they ended up starting to explore non-monogamy in their sixties and seventies, and why it was the right time for each of them. They also dig into challenges they have faced along the way and how much closer swinging together has brought them. This interview is absolutely incredible, as are Pam and Jim. Enjoy! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

This conversation with Anna is amazing in so many ways! They have been exploring non-monogamy and polyamory for over 12 years after coming from a background of serial monogamy and codependency. They're super honest and transparent about the work that had to be done there to show up in a more authentic way. We also have a great conversation about control in relationships that is quite impactful. Anna is also the President of Atlanta Polyamory and the owner of Love Positive Counseling. They're passionate about providing a safe space for individuals, couples, poly units, and families to find their innate potential and achieve their dreams, regardless of gender, orientation, race, religion, or love-style. They feel called to help people find internal and external peace by living and loving more authentically. Anna's experience includes 19+ years practicing BDSM, 12+ years loving polyamorously, and 9+ years of gender exploration. They received their Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Kennesaw State University and a Master of Arts in Community Counseling from Argosy University (Atlanta). They also received their LPC license in 2018 and my CPCS in 2020. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

CJ and her husband have been together for over 18 years, she has kids, a great job... She had it all. But, as she described it, she had it all and had a bit of a "mid-life crisis" around age 30! For the last few years, she and her husband have been slowly opening their relationship. During this wonderful conversation she shares the whole story along with some amazing strategies for how they approach difficult conversations, navigating boundaries, and bringing intentionality back to your relationship. She also leaks some spoilers for her new book "Into The Open." Enjoy this fantastic interview and then go grab a copy of her book! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

This conversation with Evita is amazing from start to finish. She has been exploring non-monogamy for about 10 years. She is incredibly honest with us about the challenges and the huge benefits that transitioning from monogamy to swinging to polyamory has brought her. This is one of those conversations that sticks with you for a while and that can so easily be applied to any relationship regardless of whether or not it is open. We talk about jealousy, transitioning relationships, boundaries, hilarious bloopers, and much more! After listening, go follow Evita on Instagram and Facebook for more amazing content and to work with her as a coach. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Layla was so focused on her business and other aspects of life that sex and relationships fell off the radar completely. She woke up one day after three and a half years of not having sex, with a plan... She came up with a bucket list and a one year plan to check as much off of it as she could. Her one year plan started six years ago and stuck. Not only did it stick, it transformed the way she approaches relationships and all aspect of her life. She shares with us how she came up with her plan, how it played out, and what she learned along the way. She's incredibly honest and transparent about everything and it's really refreshing. After you listen to this interview, head over to check out her podcast, The Curious Girl Diaries, where she goes even deeper into her experiences. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Jon met his current wife toward the end of his previous marriage after he and his ex-wife began exploring non-monogamy together. He and his current wife have been working together to slowly open their relationship as well. Jon talks about how different security levels and attachment styles shape the two relationships. We also have an amazing conversation about how relationships ending or transitioning doesn't mean the relationship was a failure. Jon is also the author of a new novel, I Am My Beloveds, that has non-monogamous themes throughout and is influenced partly by his own journey. This is an amazing conversation. Join us! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Today we're talking all about compersion with Marie! What is compersion? Where did this word even come from? Can we foster compersion? Is it possible to have a healthy relationship without compersion? Marie answers all of these questions and more in this amazing conversation! Dr. Marie Thouin is the founder of Love InSight, a Mindful Dating Coaching practice where she helps people of all ages, genders, and sexual/relationship orientations navigate the path of intimate love—including couples transitioning to non-monogamy and/or alternative relationship structures. Marie completed her doctoral dissertation on compersion in consensually non-monogamous individuals in the East-West Psychology department at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco. She also serves as Editor at the International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, a leading peer-reviewed publication in the fields of transpersonal and whole-person psychologies. Learn more on her website: www.whatiscompersion.com Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

We're excited to bring Kate and Liam from the Monogamish Marriage back on the show for an update! The last time we talked to them on the podcast was for Episode 20 and so much has changed since then! Kate fell in love... Liam dove into exploring his sexuality.... They launched a podcast to accompany their amazing blog. We talk about it all and they even dish about that time the four of us met in person for the first time almost exactly four years ago. Definitely don't skip this one and after you're done, head over to their website, themonogamishmarriage.com, and check out all of their incredible work and beautiful photos! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Hilly is in her mid thirties and as far as she can remember, her only "traditional" monogamous relationship was in high school and lasted about two months. She has explored a wide range of different relationship dynamics including swinging and polyamory. She's also very involved in the kink scene and is the first age play advocate we have had on the show. She talks to us about how her dynamic works, what she's learned along the way, and shares with us a bunch resources for anyone who is interested in learning more. Hilly is also an author, content creator, and runs a Facebook support group for people interested in age play. All of the links to find her work can be found in the show notes link below. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Hannah and Greg have been together for 13 years and actually took a unique approach to opening their relationship pretty early on. They would spend summers apart and during that time they gave one another the freedom to explore. They talk a lot about that experience and trying to navigate an open relationship without resources or a solid understanding of what they were doing or how to do it. More recently they have revisited the idea of non-monogamy and over the last few years have slowly opened their relationship in a much more tactical way. It hasn't been an easy road and they have learned a lot. We love how vulnerable they both are during this conversation. Enjoy! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Brooke and her husband began exploring swinging 21 years into their now 30+ year marriage. Swinging led to polyamory, and multiple attempts at quad dynamics before determining that the quad dynamic was not a good fit for them, even if polyamory was. Woven into this incredible story are some amazing conversations on letting go of blame and anger after an infidelity as well as setting boundaries and what happens when you don't. This is a beautiful conversation and we hope you enjoy it. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Milla is the Director of Marketing and Senior Size Specialist at ONE Condoms and myONE Custom Fit Condoms and she's with us today to talk all things condoms... She's been on a mission to improve sexual health education since her terrible sex-ed experience in high school and she is a blast to talk to. This isn't a boring sex-ed lecture, we promise. Bonus! Save 20% on your order at both ONE and myONE when you use the code NNM! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Chris identifies as a bisexual, polyamorous woman and has two partners. She feels as if she has been polyamorous since she was in her twenties but didn't have a framework for it. After navigating a series of infidelities on her behalf over the years, her husband approached her and asked to officially open the relationship. They explored a swinging dynamic for a few years until their relationship ultimately ended. Since then, Chris has been on her own journey to figure out what works best for her. We have a great conversation on a wide range of topics, as she shares not only the trials and challenges that she has faced but also the happiness and joy it brings to her life. Enjoy! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

This conversation with Kate and Travis has so much depth, laughter, and love. It's amazing... There isn't much that's conventional about these two and we absolutely love how proud they are and how they support each other. In a nutshell... They have been together 10 years and married for one. It all started when Travis' friend bet him that he couldn't hook up with Kate. But first, they became roommates. Kate moved in but not to her room... To Travis'. Then they started hooking up, then exploring with threesomes, then within four months Kate was pregnant. Then Kate moved out and they decided to try dating each other instead of just hooking up. Then... Surprise, a second baby! Years later, they're still going strong. Best friends exploring non-monogamy and living life to the fullest. It's a beautiful and fun story. Last year, Kate and Travis decided to start documenting some of their journey on a podcast called She, My Wife, and I. Check it out to learn more and follow along as they adventure through life together! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Rachel started exploring non-monogamy in 2015 when she was in her late twenties and her boyfriend brought it up. Initially, they went down the hotwife path but through those experiences she realized she was seeking deeper connections. Over the last few years she has been exploring what it is she wants from non-monogamy and how to make it a reality. We have great conversations about confronting jealously from both sides (being the one who is jealous and being the one who is inducing it in a partner), sexual health, and going after what you want in life. It is a beautiful interview and we hope you enjoy it. Rachel is also the author of the newly released book called Open: An Uncensored Memoir of Love, Liberation, and Non-Monogamy. Order it today, support her work, and go even deeper than we do in our interview. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

The Enneagram is a personality and motivation assessment. It is one of the most powerful and insightful tools for understanding ourselves and others at a deeper level. At its core, the Enneagram helps us to see ourselves at a deeper, more objective level and can be of invaluable assistance on our path to self-knowledge. For this 3-part series, we've partnered with Enneagram coach Kelsia from Expansive Connection to help us understand our Enneagram types better. This three part series mirrors the Enneagram Experience she offers to anyone looking to understand themselves and those around them better. Part 1 Kelsia explains the nine different personality types and then dives into the details of our specific numbers. We get into an emotional conversation about how all of the behaviors and motivations she describes are incredibly accurate and how they play out for us in our lives and relationships. Part 2 Kelsia explains how we adapt in times of stress and times of calm. Our Enneagram numbers don't change but we take on traits from other types. The three of us talk about what this looks like for us specifically and how we can help support each other in times of stress and ironically, even in times of calm. Part 3 Kelsia digs into the centers of intelligence and how to tap into yours. Listening to your body is incredibly important. She walks through an exercise with us to help us understand this better. Check out the full show notes here. Sign Up For The Enneagram Experience With Kelsia Kelsia's Email: [email protected] Expansive Connection The Enneagram diagram we reference The website to take the $12 Enneagram test (not an affiliate link, just a regular link) Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Franziska doesn't love labels but she's in her early twenties and identifies as a queer, bisexual, gender queer, kinky switch... She's shares with us how she was really first exposed to non-monogamy while living in Berlin and how her approach to relationships has evolved over the last few years. She also talks about how non-monogamy has informed other aspects of her life beyond her relationships. This led her to join the team at Bloom. Bloom is a sex-positive and consent-forward dating and social community. We highly recommend you download the app and check out the incredible work that her, Luna from episode 212, and the rest of the Bloom team are doing. Enjoy! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

The Enneagram is a personality and motivation assessment. It is one of the most powerful and insightful tools for understanding ourselves and others at a deeper level. At its core, the Enneagram helps us to see ourselves at a deeper, more objective level and can be of invaluable assistance on our path to self-knowledge. For this 3-part series, we've partnered with Enneagram coach Kelsia from Expansive Connection to help us understand our Enneagram types better. This three part series mirrors the Enneagram Experience she offers to anyone looking to understand themselves and those around them better. Part 1 Kelsia explains the nine different personality types and then dives into the details of our specific numbers. We get into an emotional conversation about how all of the behaviors and motivations she describes are incredibly accurate and how they play out for us in our lives and relationships. Part 2 Kelsia explains how we adapt in times of stress and times of calm. Our Enneagram numbers don't change but we take on traits from other types. The three of us talk about what this looks like for us specifically and how we can help support each other in times of stress and ironically, even in times of calm. Part 3 Kelsia digs into the centers of intelligence and how to tap into yours. Listening to your body is incredibly important. She walks through an exercise with us to help us understand this better. Check out the full show notes here. Sign Up For The Enneagram Experience With Kelsia Kelsia's Email: [email protected] Expansive Connection The Enneagram diagram we reference The website to take the $12 Enneagram test (not an affiliate link, just a regular link) Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Whitney is a bisexual woman in her early thirties who grew up in the Mormon church and has been married for 14 years to her high school sweetheart. She has been "officially" exploring polyamory for about three years but has had non-monogamous tendencies throughout their entire relationship. She and her husband even tried swinging for a bit until she recognized she has a need for deeper connections.. This is a fantastic conversation that covers a lot of deep topics. We hope you enjoy! Whitney is also finishing up her psychology degree and is starting to work with people in alternative relationships as a coach. You can learn more by visiting her website at www.theselfevolution.com. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

The Enneagram is a personality and motivation assessment. It is one of the most powerful and insightful tools for understanding ourselves and others at a deeper level. At its core, the Enneagram helps us to see ourselves at a deeper, more objective level and can be of invaluable assistance on our path to self-knowledge. For this 3-part series, we've partnered with Enneagram coach Kelsia from Expansive Connection to help us understand our Enneagram types better. This three part series mirrors the Enneagram Experience she offers to anyone looking to understand themselves and those around them better. Part 1 Kelsia explains the nine different personality types and then dives into the details of our specific numbers. We get into an emotional conversation about how all of the behaviors and motivations she describes are incredibly accurate and how they play out for us in our lives and relationships. Part 2 Kelsia explains how we adapt in times of stress and times of calm. Our Enneagram numbers don't change but we take on traits from other types. The three of us talk about what this looks like for us specifically and how we can help support each other in times of stress and ironically, even in times of calm. Part 3 Kelsia digs into the centers of intelligence and how to tap into yours. Listening to your body is incredibly important. She walks through an exercise with us to help us understand this better. Check out the full show notes here. Sign Up For The Enneagram Experience With Kelsia Kelsia's Email: [email protected] Expansive Connection The Enneagram diagram we reference The website to take the $12 Enneagram test (not an affiliate link, just a regular link) Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Sarah is in her early thirties and has been exploring ethical non-monogamy for about five years. As she puts it, she just always had a feeling that monogamy didn’t feel right for her but it took her a while to figure out what to do about it. After a few attempts at opening relationships that didn’t work out, she finally feels like she is in a healthy open relationship and she’s loving it. Of course, it hasn’t always been easy and there have been growth opportunities. Throughout our conversation, Sarah shares with us how she has navigated difficult situations and worked to find security and balance in her life. Sarah is on a mission to help people have the sex life they truly want through writing, activism, & education. Check out all of her work here and also sign up for her Alternative Relationship Summit on January 13-14! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Brittany and Chad have been together about three and half years but were best friends for almost seven before that. They got together after getting out of unhealthy relationships and decided to start exploring the idea of opening their relationship as a way to encourage Brittany to explore her bisexuality. We have great conversations about owning who you are, the evolution of non-monogamous dynamics over time, how comfort levels and rules change, and so much more. We love this conversation... Enjoy! Brittany and Chad also host the Tangled Up Together podcast where they share more about their adventures in exploring the swinging lifestyle and ethical non-monogamy. Check it out and support the work they do! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Michaela and Paul have been together about three years and actually met while Michaela was exploring non-monogamy with her ex-husband. After they officially got together they closed their relationship down for a bit to establish some security and now are back out on the journey together. We have some amazing conversations about transitioning relationships, bisexual men in the swinging lifestyle, sexual health, and of course a few bloopers! Enjoy! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Misha has been exploring non-monogamy in varying forms since she was in her twenties when she kind of fell into a spontaneous triad. Since then, the journey has allowed her to explore sex parties, kink, and polyamory. We have some amazing conversations about attachment and what it means to be in a relationship and have a partner. We also get some bonus tips on creating better sex parties. Misha also co-produces Bonobo Network with William Winters. Alongside William, she is passionate about supporting sex positive community and helping people create more pleasure for themselves. She teaches and consults individuals and communities to develop their consent culture with a harm reduction and transformative justice lens. Her private practice, Clearing Conversations, focuses on conflict resolution and communication coaching and she loves supporting the sex positive community of the Bay Area and beyond in creating sustainable, long-term relationship building. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Michaela is 27 and has been exploring non-monogamy for a little over three years. She is an acrobat and does acro-yoga and acro-burlesque. Two things we didn't even know existed until we talked to her! Bryson is 28 and also an acrobat and acrobatics instructor. He's been exploring non-monogamy since he met Michaela about two and a half years ago. This conversation we have with them is so incredible. They talk about their individual struggles over the years and how they have grown together. They also talk about how their relationship has changed over the last few months and how it led them to really look hard at what it means to be a partner and how they make their partnership work. There are so many amazing conversations in this interview.... Don't skip it. You'll thank us, we promise! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Luna is a 31 year old queer, polyamorous, kinky, badass who is on a journey to answer the question: How can software help people build meaningful relationships? She's been exploring non-monogamy for the last few years and shares with us what draws her to this approach to relationships and how it influences all aspects of her life. She also talks about how non-monogamy inspired her to develop an app called Bloom to help people build community. Bloom is a sex-positive and consent-forward dating and social community. We highly recommend you download the app and check out the incredible work that Luna and her team are doing. Enjoy! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

"Your life doesn't stop at age 60!" Judie is emphatic about this as she moves through her sixties and Eldon, his seventies. This interview is beautiful and covers a lot things we don't often get the chance to talk about... Everything from infidelity to Eldon waking up one day and walking away from religion after being a minister for 20 years. Judie is an unashamed badass who seizes life everyday. It's amazing. A few months back Eldon brought the idea of opening up their marriage to her and well, as you can imagine, she has fully embraced it. They both have... Enjoy! Judie also hosts her own podcast called Plus Size Polyamory. Check it out and support the work she is doing there. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Daev is in his early forties and has been exploring non-monogamy in various ways since about 2014. He was on the show about a year ago with his partner Shannon on Episode 166. Since our last discussion, a lot has changed... For one, Daev and Shannon are no longer together. His personal journey into solo polyamory has been very impactful for him in the last few months. We have a great conversation with him about the role having an open relationship played in their relationship ending plus how he has handled grieving the loss of the that relationship and how he is moving forward. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Jenna and Wendi have known each other about eight years and have been married for three. Jenna is polyamorous. Wendi is not. These two share so much love, laughter, and life together and it is beautiful. In this amazing conversation they talk about navigating the imbalances in their "mono-poly" relationship, confronting insecurities, and how much respect they have for one another and their individual relationships. We absolutely love this conversation and hope you do as well! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our November Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Ali and Michael have been together since their high school days over 17 years ago. After their first year of college, Ali brought up the idea of opening their relationship and to her delight, Michael was up for it. Thirteen years, and many bumps and bruises later, they have dabbled in kink, swinging, and polyamory trying to find what works best for them. Right now, they've decided on the broadest description they could come up with: ethically non-monogamous. This conversation covers so much - from dealing with and basically overcoming shame, to how they created a beautiful throuple dynamic with a partner in Iceland. Definitely do not skip this one! Ali is a travel and wildlife journalist. Her work can be found on Forbes, HuffPost, VICE, and Lonely Planet. She also writes about non-monogamy for Cosmopolitan. We were drawn to her work because she writes about non-monogamy from the first person perspective and for people in the non-monogamous community, not to create click bait exploiting it. Definitely check out her work here! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our November Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Red and Jay are in their early thirties and have been together about nine years and married for five. They consider themselves social swingers and started exploring non-monogamy right at the beginning of the pandemic… Perfect timing, right?! In this conversation with us, they discuss how they have navigated opening their relationship at possibly the worst time ever, how they navigate swinging when one of them is pretty introverted and one of them is an extrovert, plus, they even came prepared with a blooper or two! This is a super fun conversation and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did! Enjoy! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our November Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

This is our second interview with Gabby this week… In case you missed it, Gabby is a married, 37 year old, bisexual, relationship anarchist who has been exploring non-monogamy for about 10 years. In our first conversation with her, she shared with us how being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, PTSD, ADHD, and borderline personality disorder in her late teens has impacted and informed her relationships and non-monogamy. In this episode, we lighten things up just a bit. Gabby shares a bunch of amazing stories from her decade of experience and each one weaves in incredibly valuable lessons on trust, consent, boundaries, and even a bit of sexiness! We had such an amazing time talking with Gabby again and hope you enjoy this conversation as well! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our November Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Gabby is a married, 37 year old, bisexual, relationship anarchist who has been exploring non-monogamy for about 10 years. In this first conversation with her, she shares with us how being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, PTSD, ADHD, and borderline personality disorder in her late teens has impacted and informed her relationships and non-monogamy. She also talks a lot about how she navigates multiple relationships and gets support from her partners while also supporting them simultaneously. This is an amazingly powerful episode and we are so grateful to Gabby for her transparency and openness in talking with us. So much so, that we are bringing her back for a second interview in just two days! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our October 26 Virtual Meet and Greet! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Jan is a 25 year old pansexual, neurodivergent, relationship anarchist from the Netherlands. He recognized at age six that he approached things a bit differently than his peers and relationships were no exception. We have a fantastic discussion on transitioning and healing damaged relationships as well as learning to set healthy boundaries. Jan is also working with a group of people he met on Reddit to design a new flag to represent the polyamory community. Their goal is to crowdsource ideas and have the global community vote on the new flag. To learn more about how you can get involved and help support the project, please check them out at www.polyamproud.com. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our October 26 Virtual Meet and Greet! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Rosie started exploring and researching the idea of non-monogamy a while ago and even tried it out briefly while she had a platonic partner. She ultimately determined it wasn’t necessarily for her, however, she ended up bringing a lot of the mindset and skills she developed and learned through non-monogamy into her monogamous relationship with her fiancé. Rosie is also an award-winning comedian, the author of “Is Monogamy Dead?” and “The Breakup Monologues” as well as the host of the podcast by the same name. This conversation is an absolute delight… Enjoy! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our October 26 Virtual Meet and Greet! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Wendy started exploring non-monogamy about six years ago as a way to save her marriage. Anthony and his wife got into it almost 20 years ago and have been in dynamics ranging from swinging to a polyamorous quad. A few years ago their forces collided. They share with us the story of how they came to be together and the challenges of coming out of difficult relationships while trying to form new ones. We also have a great conversation about negotiating a relationship from the very beginning. Wendy and Anthony also volunteer at the Paradise Club in Pennsylvania to help lead the charge in education, community building, and making the experience for members as amazing as possible. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our October 26 Virtual Meet and Greet! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Crystal and Rich came out of their previous marriages knowing they wanted something different. They found one another and have been exploring a cuckold dynamic just about from the beginning of their relationship... At least having the conversations since the beginning. This is such a fantastic conversation that shows there is more to a relationship style than the name implies. Everyone does things a little bit differently and this is a beautiful example of exactly that. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our October 26 Virtual Meet and Greet! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Kacie and Marcus have been married for about eight years and exploring polyamory and non-monogamy for three of them. They started their non-monogamy journey when Kacie realized she had a crush on a coworker and decided to talk to Marcus about it. The conversation went way better than she expected and three years later they are continuing to evolve and grow together as they figure out what works best for them and how to navigate everything. This is an incredibly powerful conversation from start to finish. We hope you enjoy it. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our September 22 Virtual Meet and Greet! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Mason is an amazing queer transgender man who has been married for over a decade and exploring non-monogamy for the past five years. Everywhere Mason goes, he seems to drive change. He went to a private Christian university and went head-to-head with administration almost weekly regarding policies and treatment of the LGBTQ+ community. Now, as a sex educator who runs a business helping trans people find the best-suited sex toys for them, he continues to influence change by working with sex toy companies to make their toys more inclusive. Oh, and did we mention he got started by hosting sex toy parties at the private Christian school? We love this conversation and all of the work Mason is doing. Please check it out and tell everyone you know to help spread the love! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our September 22 Virtual Meet and Greet! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

This conversation with Javay is absolutely incredible. It's full of amazing stories, information, and a ton of laughs. Full disclosure, the rest of this description is taken straight from her website at themillennialsexpert.com because she wrote it way better than we ever could! From Javay: I am a Black, bisexual, sex educator. I use she/her pronouns. I was born in Washington, DC and grew up in PG County & Charles County, MD. I currently live in Bend, OR with my husband and our two dogs, Boris & Igor. I am a sex educator, content creator, writer, erotic model, and activist. I went to James Madison University where I earned a BA in Media Arts & Design and a BS in Hospitality Management. After graduating undergrad I moved to Los Angeles, CA to work in the entertainment industry. While in LA, I started my YouTube channel with my first web series, The Honest Millennial. Throughout my time in LA I realized that sex was my passion. I began working at the sex shop, A Touch of Romance, and decided I wanted to continue down this career path. I launched my sex ed web series, In Bed With a Millennial, and decided to apply to grad school to become the best sex educator I could be. I recently completed my Masters of Education in Sex Education at Widener University. I am starting my doctorate in human sexuality at California Institute of Integral Studies this fall to become an even greater sex educator and continue to educate people and bringing pleasure to everyone. Javay is also the co-host of a new adult animated educational series, called Welcome to Kinkyville, about kink and how to do it safely. The kickstarter campaign started on August 10 and wraps up on September 9... Check it out, spread the word, and help us in supporting this amazing work! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our September 22 Virtual Meet and Greet! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Emily is a screenwriter and script supervisor who does cosplay and designs geek clothing. She's also non-monogamous and kinky, which she discovered after her divorce. She's been exploring the kink scene and solo polyamory for a few years, and as most of us do, continuing to evolve and figure out what works best for her. This is a fantastic conversation with a seriously badass human! Enjoy! Emily is also the creator and co-host of a new adult animated educational series, called Welcome to Kinkyville, about kink and how to do it safely. The kickstarter campaign started on August 10 and wraps up on September 9... Check it out, spread the word, and help us in supporting this amazing work! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our September 22 Virtual Meet and Greet! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Jaret is partnered with Jamie who was a former guest on episode 184. This deep conversation with Jaret covers his experiences in healing from a traumatic brain injury, supporting his dad and partner, Jamie, through their transitions, and releasing expectations in relationships and life. This is a powerful episode in many ways, we hope you enjoy it. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our September 22 Virtual Meet and Greet! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

In this fantastic roundtable conversation we bring Leanne, G, and Zach back on the show to talk more about their experiences creating safe and inclusive spaces to explore sexuality. G and Zach were foundational members of the orgy club/team at Yale. Leanne was a member of Oxford’s Piers Gaveston Society and also has organized many of her own orgies. We tap into their wisdom in how to build community and environments where people feel safe, welcome, and free to explore their sexuality. Some sexy stories are shared, along with exploring the deeper meaning behind fostering events like these, and we top it off with a few hilarious bloopers. Without a doubt, you do NOT want to skip this episode! Thank you again to Leanne, G, and Zach for sharing their voices and experiences with us. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our September 22 Virtual Meet and Greet! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Mandy is such a delight to talk to and is so full of positive energy! She is a bisexual badass who has been exploring solo polyamory and relationship anarchy for about four years. We have an amazing discussion about her journey, about navigating the complications of mono-poly dynamics, and of course, Fin's favorite topic... Unicorn hunting! Mandy is also the creator of the fantastic YouTube channel, Mainely Mandy. Check it out and support her work after you finish this incredible discussion. Enjoy! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our September 22 Virtual Meet and Greet! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Sonia and Gabriel have been together for over 19 years and have been practicing polyamory for about 10 years. They have a refreshingly honest conversation with us about where they are, how they've grown along the way, and the learning experiences that have brought them here. We also talk about what being queer and kinky (or not) means to both of them. We love this interview and hope you do as well. Gabriel is also the director, producer, and editor of a new adult animated educational series, called Welcome to Kinkyville, about kink and how to do it safely. The kickstarter campaign started on August 10... Check it out, spread the word, and help us in supporting this type of amazing work! Check out the full show notes here. Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/